Garden Party

Steve's colleague at work, Bob, and his wife, Nancy, threw a wonderful kid-centered garden party.  There was lots of yummy food and drink, including a fantastic carrot cake made with ingredients found in Bob and Nancy's garden.

Each child was given a terra cotta pot with their initial painted on it and access to paint, paintbrushes and stencils to create a masterpiece. Maddy chose a snail stencil and lots of bright colors! Then Bob gave Maddy her very own lavender plant and taught her how to pot it.

Bob and Nancy have an immaculately landscaped yard overflowing with fruit, vegetables, herbs and all kinds of flowers, plants and trees. It was gorgeous! Bob spent time with Maddy telling her all about soil and nutrients.

 We all had a great time, and after all the excitement, Maddy was one tuckered-out little girl. 

Rose Festival

There are certain things I have always wanted to do, and one of them is taking my daughter on a carousel ride. Recently my wish came true and both Maddy and I loved the experience! Steve was in New York for the weekend, so I decided to plan a super fun Maddy/Mommy day, and off to the Rose Festival City Fair we went!

We decided to take the bus downtown instead of driving, and as usual for me, we were running a bit behind schedule. Even though the forecast only predicted a 30% chance of rain, I grabbed my raincoat and a sweatshirt for Maddy, and we hurried down the street to the bus stop. We made it on time, hopped on the bus and headed to the fair. Maddy was quite excited and told everyone on the bus where we were headed.

Once we got to the fair we took a quick walk around to get oriented. The carousel was on one end and the crafters' tables (merchandise) on the other, with blocks and blocks of games, rides and food in between.  There weren't too many rides suitable for Maddy since she's still such a little peanut, but there were plenty of other activities to entertain us. 

Our first stop was the tots craft station, full of art supplies, paper plates, googly eyes, pom poms and glue. Maddy made a cute little mask. Then off to the butterfly exhibit which was fantastic! A 15 minute wait got you into a room with 400+ butterflies cruising around and cutip full of nectar to coax the butterflies into your grasp. Maddy was ecstatic and laughing, having a grand time!  

All the excitement gave us an appetite so we got some yakisoba noodles to share and found a table with an umbrella. Good thing, as that's when the rain started. It poured for a bit and we shared our table with another family so they could keep dry too, and Maddy made friends with their little girl. Once the rain slowed, off we went to the games, where Maddy went "fishing" and caught her fish by the string winding around the plastic fishes tail! Now this made me chuckle, as I once caught a chinook salmon the very same way when fishing with my dad. Every fish equals a prize, and Maddy picked a purple lion and named him "Harry Blossom" (loosely after her current cereal "Berry Blossoms" but why? No idea). 

Next stop...the carousel, which both Maddy and I loved! Maddy laughed and laughed, shouting "Mommy! We're going around and around AND up and down!"  

Last stop: ice cream. Maddy picked strawberry and the people working the booth offered the ultimate ice cream cone: adding whipped cream and sprinkles. Maddy's dream come true!

What an fun adventure we had !

Sesame Street- LIVE!

When I found out that Sesame Street was coming to town, I decided we couldn't pass up the opportunity to see our favorite characters...live!  The big event happened a couple of weeks ago, and what an exciting day it was! Geared toward toddlers, production time was 10:30 a.m. (brilliant!), so after a hearty breakfast, Steve, Maddy and I hopped in the car for the short ride to the train stop closest to our home and thus started the adventure. Maddy LOVES trains and her excitement showed while waiting for, then riding the train to the Veterans Memorial Colosseum where we would see the show. 

Every moment was exciting for Maddy as this was her first big production: walking to the venue, handing over her ticket, getting kettle corn as a treat, finding our seats, checking out the stage set and ogling the crowd of adults and kiddos. The one rather traumatic snafu happened when Maddy's seat collapsed with her in it and spit her out the back (seriously they should warn parents about this- we saw at least two other kiddos suffer the same mishap!). Maddy was fine, and after a few tears (and me running to the service booth for a booster seat) her smile returned.

The production itself was great and all our favorite characters: Elmo (naturally), Abby Cadaby, Cookie Monster etc. were present and accounted for. The message was good (acceptance, friendship, diversity) and it was well played. Although rather long at 90 minutes with a 15 minute intermission, Maddy persevered and we stayed through the end. While there Maddy bought one Elmo light-up-spin toy mostly with her own money (sadly $10 doesn't cut it these days- this production charges astronomical fees for everything) and we threw in an Elmo/Cookie Monster helium balloon.

We extended the day's excitement by going out to lunch at a Red Robin nearby, then rounded out the afternoon by the train ride home, balloon and a happy Maddy in tow.

Springtime Fun

Enjoying the flowers in our yard

 
With all the events lately it's hard to know where to begin!  Maddy loves playing with her friends and she's had ample opportunity to do so lately. From park-time with Luella, to adult and toddler birthday parties, we have had lots of social time.

The flowers are in full bloom and the sun has started to shine brightly more often, and we've been enjoying both the bright colors and warmth of springtime here in Portland. It's been fun to watch the flowers in our yard emerge for the first time as we've just now been in our home for a year.

Madeline is growing up so fast and we continue to enjoy each stage of her toddlerhood as it comes. Some milestones lately include first pedicure and first sleepover!  Maddy spent the night with the Brendan, Megan, Riley and Kieran Flynn and Wilson and Shana were there too!  I doubt she missed us at all, with the "make-your-own-pizza party", backyard fire, roasted marshmallows and blueberry pancakes in the morning!  Megan told us that Maddy and Kieran had lots of fun playing together and even got out of bed and played after bedtime (Maddy thought this was hilarious)!  Steve and I also enjoyed that night, going out with friends to see some music and both of us got to sleep in the next morning (heavenly!)  It was definitely a win-win.

The Sweany's invited friends over for a back yard happy hour last weekend, and Maddy and I had a great time hanging out, playing, and catching up with our friends.  Steve was in New York visiting his brother Tom and Susan (his brother Jeff went as well) and cheering the Portland Timbers to victory against the New York Red Bulls (soccer). 

We are approaching the end of the ChildRoots birthday season with only one more party on the books, but Maddy certainly has enjoyed all the play time with her friends/classmates outside of school (not to mention all the cupcakes!) Some of the photos below are from Maddy's little buddy Carson's birthday party at the Oregon Rail Heritage Museum, complete with snacks, cupcakes AND a train ride!

Maddy and Luella at the Park

Ropes help while learning how to pedal!

Maddy and Luella = buddies!

New "Big Girl" Dora & Boots bedding

Since Mommy got a pedicure, Maddy deserved one too!

First Sleepover! (At the Flynn's)

Marnie reading I Lost My Tooth in Africa to Maddy's class at ChildRoots

Maddy and Olivia

Althea having lots of fun at the Sweany's!

Trains!  (Oregon Heritage Rail Museum)

Carson's birthday party

Carson and Malena with Daniel, Madeline and Jack

Fun on the train ride

The Latest and Greatest

Here's what Maddy has been up to lately:

- Making up songs- especially about her "friends" (stuffed animals/dolls).

- Changing Rosie's clothes. 

- Trying to listen to her body and not have too many potty accidents (still a struggle).

- Playing with her friends at school, starting to role-play.

- Pretending to cry- then laughing hysterically.

- Pretending to be any sort of baby animal (Steve and I play the Mommy and Daddy animals).

- Still loving Dora, and now Curious George, Sesame Street (Elmo, anyway) and Blues Clues too.

- Checking in with others when they are sad or hurt.

- Anti-naps.

- Loving most types of food but not greens or tomatoes .

- Saying "I love you to the moon and back! Goodnight!" three times before we leave her room at bedtime.

- Snuggling on my lap while watching Dora.

- Pillow forts and pillow trains on the couch.

- Telling me and Daddy: "I'm a big girl but I'm still a little peanut!"

- Speaking/singing gibberish.

- Singing: wibbely wobbely woolbox, the elephant sat a toolbox...picking new words to rhyme with...over and over.

- Wanting to do things herself.

- Still "helping" me with my makeup (Maddy sits on the counter and I tell her the shape, color and size of whatever I need next).

- Smiling the prettiest smile ever.

- Knowing just when to say "I LOVE you Mommy/Daddy!" to make our hearts melt (especially if she's done something to frustrate us).

- Loving her books (especially library books!)

- Dance class with Karina.

- Telling jokes and making me and Steve laugh at her silliness.

- Enjoying the ChildRoots birthday season (all her little classmates are within three months of age- so it's party central around here).

- Piggyback rides with Daddy.

- Making me smile every day!

Happy Third Birthday, Maddy Rose!

Happy Birthday!

Maddy celebrated her third birthday in style and I do believe enjoyed every moment of it! Grandma Jan and Grandpa Mike Faust were in town to celebrate the occasion and we all had a wonderful time!  On Thursday April 24, 2014, we started the day by going to ChildRoots for Maddy's Birthday Circle.  We brought in some photos of Maddy from birth to present time for her classmates and teachers to look at, and the class sang "Happy Birthday" to her. Afterwards, Steve headed to work, but I had the day off, so Mike, Jan, Maddy and I went to Cadillac Cafe and enjoyed a very yummy brunch.  We then went to Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) to the children's area and Maddy had a great time running around and playing. We even ran into one of her classmates who wasn't in school that day.

Friday April 25, 2014 was Maddy's actual birthday and we started our day at Cafe au Play.  Our friends Christy and little Luella also met us there, and we played and listened to Talula's Dad, a local children's musician.  That night we had birthday tacos for Maddy (one of her current favorites) and pink confetti birthday cake (she specifically asked for pink frosting with sprinkles). As you can see from the photo above, she was thrilled with her cake! She also opened her birthday presents from us and from Grandpa and Grandma Faust and Grandmom and Granddad Sebastian (we were able to FaceTime with them!). Maddy's special gifts from us included her first necklace with a moon/heart charm that says "I love you to the moon and back" on the reverse, new rain gear, and a play tool set.

Sunday was Maddy's big birthday party at Kruger Farm and we invited Maddy's school friends and our circle of friends which also includes lots of kiddos.  We rented a birthday space inside due to rain, but we were lucky enough to have a break in the weather to go on our hayride! That was lots of fun for kids and parents alike and we were all happy for a little bit of sunshine to brighten the otherwise rainy day (with hail!) We had a farm scene birthday cake to go with the theme, complete with lego farm animals that Maddy can play with later.  Not only did the kids get to go on a hayride and play pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, but they also got to sit on a real tractor, meet a very large pig and see where the chickens live.  It was a great party!

Maddy at her Birthday Circle

Maddy's Birthday Circle at ChildRoots

Birthday Pancake at Cadillac Cafe

Playing at OMSI (Science Museum)

Grandma Jan, Grandpa Mike and Maddy at Cafe au Play

Farm Scene Cake

Pin-the-Tail-on-the-Donkey

Bhavna & Rohin - on the Hayride!

Maddy and I meeting the very big pig

Greta & Maddy

Carson & Maddy

Steve, Luella, Christy and Maddy

Maddy & Luella

Pink Crocodiles!